Nintendo Began Pushing NX to Third-Party Developers at E3

Although Nintendo has said it won't be ready to talk about its future "NX" hardware until 2016 that hasn't stopped it demoing the format to third-party developers, with reports suggesting it spent some of the recent E3 event prepping game makers to work with whatever form its next games machine might take.

The fact comes from an interview with the company's high-profile software developer Shigeru Miyamoto, who, according to the man himself, is taking a step back from hardware to focus on the games side this time. Miyamoto explained: "I've pulled myself back out of some of the hardware section and I'm really focused on some of the software that I'm involved in -- for example, the new Starfox game. Of course I am observing and looking at the hardware, but I am not actively participating and making decisions."

And it would appear that Nintendo's already making the marketing push with third-parties, with Fortune claiming that developers reacted positively to whatever motion/webcam/tablet/heart-rate monitor contraption the Nintendo NX eventually turns out to be when shown the concept at E3 earlier this month.

With Nintendo consoles struggling to win decent third-party support since the N64, it's understandable. Getting your FIFAs and your Calls of Duties onboard from launch is critical in this day and age, because, as the Wii U has proven, Nintendo can't exist solely on flogging legacy franchises and the odd Rayman to its diehard fan base. [Fortune]